Automobile top construction and curtains therefor



Senf. 1s ,1923;

H. M. HORNE ET AL AUTOMOBILE To? cNs'TRUcT'IoNAND CURTAINS THEREFORFiled oct. 1:5. 1921 s sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

www@

sept. 1s, 1923.

H. M. HORNE ET AL.

AUTOMOBILE ToPcoNsTRUGTIoN AND CURTAINS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 15, 1921 3Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENToR.

ATTORNEY.

H. M. HORNE ET AL.

AUTOMBILE TOP vCONSTRUCTION ANDvCUR-TAINS THEREFOR Filed Oct. l5 1921 5Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented sept. is, 192e.

HUG-HAM.' HORNE AND.THADDEAUS T. 'DICKENSOI-, 0F JACKSONVLLE, FLORIDA.

AUTOMOBIJE TGP CONSTRUCTION' .AND CURTACNS THEREFOR.

Appncation inea october 1s, leali. serial no. 507,431.

This,invention appeitains to certainimprovements in vehicle topconstructions and curtains vtherefor generally, and more par-V ticularlyto types thereof adapted for use on automobiles. n, f

The` principal object `of the invention is to providefor a topconstruction of the class mentioned, and one ofV a constructionV and'arrangementy affording greater strength and Vdurability thereto thannow obtains in presentlnoivn types thereof, the framing and posts ofthe4 same beingpreferably formed of aluminum-to lendlightnessto thestructure Without detracting from such increased.

strength and durability, aforesaid.

Another and equally important object of thev invention is tolprovide-,for a top construction as characterized, and one embodying anovel form ofv curtain Construction and arrangement whereby the Vsaine`are maintainedin position for instant use on thetop structure` of Yanautomobile when the latteris inits raised operative position, the saidVcurtain being supported on the topl in amanneras to notfinterferel inany Way with the ready access to and 'exitfrom the interiorofthev'ehicle or automobile.

llVith the foregoing and other objects in yieiv, the inventionresides'in the certain novel'and useful construction, arrangement andVoperati-on of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, setforth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure lis a fragmentary side elevation of the upperportion of the body of an automobile, showing a preferred embodiment ofthe top and curtain structure as applied thereto.`

Figure 2 is atop plan 'vievv of the top perse.` A Y ,Figure .3 yis a.horizontal section take-n on theI line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure e -s an enlarged horizontal section taken on the 'une 4-4,of'nigurre 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevatiompartly insection, of one of the intermediate top supportingand curtain guideposts, andshowing the manner of journaling the adjacent ends of thecurtain rollers thereto. i

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 6-6 ,ofFigure 2.

Figure 7 is anenlarged fragmentary detail of one of the front curtainguides and supporting bracket and showing its manner of attachment Atothe Wind Vshield of an automobile.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view off'the parts 'as shown inFigure 7, and

FigureQ isan enlarged fragmentary detail of the back curtainconstruction and showing the manner of mounting a curtainlight therein.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, thenumeral 10 indicates the body portion of an automobile, 11 and 12 theliront and rear doors thereof; 13 the hood portion at the forward end ofthe same; and 1li the Wind shield rising from the inner end portion ofthe hood portion 13; all of a conventional construction and arrangement.Y

The preferred embodiment of the topfconstruction and arrangement, ascontemplated for the present invention-and as' illustra-ted in thedrawings, comprises an inverted yokeshaped frame ivork over Which an4inverted. U-shaped top a is positioned and which may be formed of anysuitable material, such as any of the usualfabrics, or the same may beinthe form of a sheet metal, preferably sheet aluminunnis stretched andsecured, and which consists of a front transverse bar 15; a frontintermediate transverse member or rib 16; a rear intermediate transverse member or rib 17 and a. rear transverse member or rib 18; themember or rib 16 being connected to and normally spaced from the bar 15by means of oppositely disposed brace members or bars each formed toprovide a pair of sections 19, 19 and 20, 20, respectively, the sections19 and 2O being ksecured to the bar 15 at their forward yends andhingedly connected as at 21 and 2,2

in end to end relation to the sections 19 spaced from the member or bar16by means f bars V and 26 projecting forwardly of the member or :bar16. Similarly, the member or bar 17 is connected -to and normally ofoppositely disposed brace members or bars arranged inalignment with'thebrace-V Vmembers or bar sections 19, 19 and 20, 20',

turn,are connected atV their inner endsrb'y-V hinges 33 and 34to thefreelends of a pair'f of complementally and'rigidly securedshort membersor bars35 Vand 36 projecting` forwardly of the frame member or bar 17,

which, in turn, is connected tothe rear frame member or bar 18 by meansof a pair of oppositely disposed *brace members or bars each: formedtoprovide pairs of sections37, 37 and 38, 38,', the sections 37 3,8,being hingedly connected as at 39 'and'40 to the frame member 17 attheir forward ends and` similarly connectedas at 41 42 at their rear.ends to thefoi'ward ends of the sections 37', 38, which, in turn, areoonnected at their rear ends by hinges 43 and 44V ,to the free ends of apair of compleinentally disposed and rigidly secured lshortmenibers ,ior bars 45and 46 projecting from the frame member or bar-18.` Each` ofthe transverse lframe' members or bars 16, 17 andf18 areof a metalbarstock preferably aluminum to lend-extreme lightness'to the topstructure without detracting freni the' strength anddurability'tliereof, and have their opposite ends `a-ngularly bent toprovide depending lportions 47 (seeFig. 6) to retain the oppositedepending side edgeportio'ns of the top o .overingniatei'ialor fabric ain its smoothly stretched condition. The outer upper edge of the rearframe' member or bar 18 is channelled as at 48 to seat therein the upperedge of an inner-binding'section 49 of a suitable leather or fabriclining material Y and a section of sheet metal 50, preferably A sheetaluminum, overlying the liningsection 4 9, and over which is extendedthe topcovering fabric or material a. The metal section y 50 curvesrearwardly and downwardly from its-.channel 48 to provide a smoothsupporting surface for the .top covering fabric or material a which istrained over the saine and lextends downwardly from the lower 'edgethereof to provide aerea-r closure wall port-ion 51 and has its loweredge fastened` by suitable fasteningssuch as the usual.

snap buttons or Ythe like, to the outer side ofthe edge portion of therear wall of the Ybody 10.A 'Similarly thefinner lining section 49 isextended downwardly over thcinner surfaeej of the vmetal section 5,()`and is connected at'its lower edge to the top fabric and the fasteningsof the same.,l LThese depending sectionsor portions of the lining 49 andthe top fabricfor material forma r'ear-n curtain permanently connectedto the top, and may' be provided with the usual lightaperture, orYaperture-3s, preferably Y closed byria glass 52`secure`din po-sitionrbythe usual nieta-l clamping elements or frames 53.v The upperside edgeYofthf'eprglasjs 52 isv preferably seated vwithin arecess ,54of

a corresponding vlength formed-by'fthe cutting away ofaicentralportionfof'the lower edge the metal plate 50V substantially asis shown in Figure 9 while thei covering a and theflining1.49` is:preferably secured Vto-V gether in anysuitable` ordesiredfmanner, as at54 on a line immediatelyl below the lower v edge of the said metal plate.50.V

' Each of the transversebarsl', lflfand 18 are provided with' dependingpairs ofzoppositelyrdisposed bows, posts or standardsj,

57 and 58, respectively, each Eof which are preferably and Vizzedlyfsecurediinlposition Aas at- 759 (see Fig. 6) to-and inwardlyfrom theouter bent i end portions `47 thereof, and Y have their lower` endsfformed to jprovide eyes 60 forenga-gement en studs 61 projecting at.properly spaced intervals outwardly of the opposite sides'fofthe body 10of the automobile, the free ends of :the-studs'l being threaded for lthereception therein'of the front transversefbar 15 isvrsupported di-Yrectly on andl secured to the upper edge of the wind shield 14, suitablerecesses'being cap nuts 62, when the top is Vinv use, while i formedinwardly of the opposite ends orf-the Y f outer face of the bai-15 andengaged over the studs63 of a pairfof bracket members'V 64seeured'at'the opposite sidesof the up' per edge' of the windsliieldr14'for the 'pur-iV pose. lh'en the top fis insuse, and is thussupportedan'd secured in positionf,thehinged brace members extendingbetween tl'ietrans-A Y i verse members'or bars"15`,f16,"17 and 18 Varestraightened out and smoothly support fthe covering a Vin the 'plane ofthe upper faces Vof the said transverse bars, the ftoplais a wholesloping in the-forward direction' to i-ioV effect a proper shedding ofVmoisture there-V from. When it is desired to-fold the topV to the rearof the body 10, the loweriends ofthe posts or standards 56 and 57' aredetached from their supporting studs 61, the4 front transverse barl 15lifted from the brackets Y 64, andfthe brace members vor bars extendingbetween the transverse members or bars 16, 17 and 18 arel broken in Va`downwarididireetionV at the centerhinges 21, 31 and 41, so

that the transverse member or bar 17 and its posts or` standards '57will be moved rear-VV wardly into abutting relation withirespect izo tothe memberlor bar 18 and its ,posts or Y i standards 58, Vthe-transversebarl16` and its posts orstandards 5,6-ina similar direction f l and intoabuttingrelation withrrespect to Y the niei'nberor bar-17 and its postor standards 57, andthe front transverse bar into abutting relation withrespect to the Vor standards 58 of the transverse member or bar 18 aresecured 'at the opposite outer ends of the latter as distinguished fromVthe points of connection of the Vposts and standards 56 and 57 beinginwardly from the opposite endsoftheir respective transverse members orbars so that the several posts or standards are disposed in `alignmentin 'the vplanes of y the opposite forward tapering sides ofthe body 10,whereby the top, vwhich is substantially rectangular in plane, issupported in Athe usualnmanner tohave its opposite side Vedge portionsequally ,overhanging the latter.

The sidegstorm curtains, to be used on the top construction ashereinbefore'described, Vare arranged in" pairs, one pair 64,64 toclosethe openings at the opposite-side of thewbody 10 and the Atopandbetween the wind shieldlfi and the front posts or standards 56, asecond pair 65, to close the openingsmbetweenrthe posts and standards 56and 57, and a third pair 66, 66 to close theV openings between the postsand standards 57 and 58. Each of the several cur-V tains comprise aVsheet of waterproof fabric Y or material 67 Vwhich is secured at oneedge Ato a roller 68 through which is extended a Y rod 69 whichis'circular in cross section Athroughout themajor portionof its length fand atone of itsrends projecting from the opposite ends of the roller,and squared at its outer end as at 7() whereby the rod 69 is preventedfrom turning during the revolving movement of the, roller 68 thereon,[and whereby a coiled spring 71l enclosed within the latter is placedunder tension, when the curtain isunwound from the roller, .one end ofthe spring being connected to the rod 69 asat 72a-nd the other to theroller 68 as atV 78(see Fig. 5). 'Each/of the several our?V `taiiis64-64Q65-65, and 66-66", are reniovably supported ,in brackets securedon the upper end portions of the inner faces of the postsV or standards56, 57 and 58, the bracketsV 74 on4 the intermediate posts or standards56 and 57 being of a double socket construction substantially as isvshown in Fig. 5, wherein this form of bracket has a solid centrallyenlarged portion 75 which is provided with a circular'opening or socketI on one side to receive the complementally formed end of therrod 69 ofthe curtain roller 68 adjacent thereto', and on the other compleinentalthereto, while the brackets 77 carried on therear set of posts orstandards 58 and a front pair of posts or standards 78 are of a singlesocket form substantially as is shown in Fig. 7. Each of the posts orstandards 56, 57 ,A58 and 78 are grooved as at`7 9 on their opposed sidevertical faces to `receive with sucligrooves the opposite ver- Vticalside edges of the curtains 67 whereby to prevent the ingressAv ofmoisture around the confined edges thereof when the same are lowered toenclose the interior of the vehicle. For retaining the curtains-in anydesired open ofl closed position, each of the saine 'have their-loweredges formed to provide a tubular beading 80 in which are mounted a pairof rods 81 having their inner ends spaced apart to either side ofthevertical 'center "of the curtain byrmeans of a coiled their outer, endsto'ffrictionally engage against the inner wall of the said grooves 79,'the outer ends of the rods 81 each being formed to provide a sphericalend portion 83 to snugly conform to the formation of the said-innerwalls of the grooves 79. To facilitate the raising and'lowering of thecurtains, the inner adjacent ends `of the rods 81 arejpprovided withfinger pieces 84 by. means of which the latter may be drawn inward ofthe bead 8O and against the tension ofthe spring 82, sothatthe endportions 83 are disengaged from contact with the walls of the grooves79, the springs 71 in` the rollers 68 acting to automatically rewind thecurtains onto the rollers 68 for the raising of 4the curtains, anduponthe release of the finger pieces "84, the outer headed'ends 88 ofVthe rods' 81 will again contact the grooves `top-edge of the latter,and received in suit- ;able recesses 86 formed in the under face ofAAthe front transverse bar 15 of the .top fraining, substantially as isshown in Figsj' and 8. V.To assure ofthe curtains being positivelyretained in their lowered or closed position the lower end-portionsofthe grooves or channels 79 of the several posts or standards aredeepened as 'at 87 whereby the headed ends 83 of the combined curtainguides and securing rods 81 will be forced inwardly of such deepenedAportions 87 Y and abut the shoulder formed at the junction of suchlatter portions and the said lower ends of the grooves or channels 79(see Fig. 5).

n the use of the curtain, the saine may be retained inoperativelposition on the top as long'as the sanie is extended overthebody so as to always be ready for instant loWer- Y iiig,tas in case ofsudden rain storms, and are only to be removed from operativepositionwvhenit is Ydesiredoi necessaryto fold the top toits inoperativeposition at the rear et the vehicle body. These several curtaiiis may beVprovidedivithtlie usual light fio admitting` inserts 88, .the same'being inade ofiany of the usual ilexible or pliable inaterials iioivused for suoli purpose.; It is to Vbe'especially noted thattheverticle'side edges of the several pairs of eurtains', 64;

65,- and G6, 66; which are engaged in the Vgri'ioves T9=0lfthe several.top `supporting ,bows or posts 56, 57:, and/'S are perfectly .boundwith sheet instal, whereby toV ullyj protect the curtainlfabric freinundue -Wear andltear, and also to facilitate the sliding I inovenentgotthe vvsaine Within the said grooves 79.' 4

From the foregoing, it will ibe `readily ap-V Y parentV that We haveprovidedfifor asufbe stantially constructedl` but compara-tivelyIlightveight top structure, androneV of. a M

` 'greater durabilityunder theusiial strains and 'stressesbrought tobear on the saine dur@ ing,- the travelaof an automobile than `is nowl.found tolbe the case vvithlrnoivn types thereof,and that, by theparticular arraiigeiiientV off, the Several A transverse frame,,ineinbera t ,bracefineinbers, and the curved jinetal rearfraineineniber, the top foevering Y Y ti'iinfed and yotherwisesupported. in a inaniifer Vas to besinooth and comparatively,freeffr'oni any andall tendency to'sag` 'or Wrinklegfalso, the curvedi'iietal plate takes practically all strain;y from the bael curtain,ofithe top, ,Whe-inthe" air pockets Within the sanieduring the runV oflthe automobile, ivhioli strain and poeieting oi, the air very Ottenresultsjinan annoying` and otherwise objectionableflapping' of the backCurtain, andin the vtearing out of the asteningsvby iiieans of,Whielrthe ,lower edgeA of the latter is secured tothe ,bodyY of the.automobile.

Y t willA alsobe apparent that the novelA construction'and arf rangementof. the side storni,curtainsv provides for Vthe carrying of the Y sainealyvays in position for'instant loitering ai'idjraising vvithouttheusual delay in removing theni vfron-itheir[pocketsewithin the top'gorelse-1 l, fa'bout 'theautomobilefand of theat-v taoliing and `detachingthereof :tofaiidiiroin operativefpositioin vvhich operationis usu-"allyi acooinpl'ished only-by Ythe operator or Vother personsmanipulating the Curtains be- Y coin'ing vvet, V'especially,AifLtheoperation -pended hereto.` 1 e;

delayedtoo long, as funtil' after a storni breaks. and it, startstovrain or snow. Y From` the oregoingalso, it will be understood that,While a preferred embodiment ofV the top and the, side s t'orincurtainsthereor Y have -been desoribedf and illustrated; 'herein inspecilie terms and detailsofli Yc'ioiistruction, Y arrangement andoperation, variousclianges ineinbers Vinterposed betweensaid,transverse.V i

nieinbers and normally Vspaeingthe sanieone troni tliefother, l.hingesooi'inectinglthe seo- `tions, of said brace ineinbers together and` tosaid transverselnienvibers, a top fc'zo lrilgV en# tended over saidraniing, saidzbracefinein- `bers *having` their upper Vfaces disposed'iiiv the plane ofthe -iipper' aceslof :the Ysaid{trans-V f Y Y verseinenibersvvhereby toinaintain support saideovering substantially smoothand tree `Atroni sagging, a baaltcurtain torined by a oonti-niiationoi'flvthe said covering depend-` metallic in ieinbei1 extendingoutwardly frein the rear or" saidtransverse,members aiid'supporting`said ,.baclifcurtain iii*rvpositi'oi'i. f

21A vehicleY ytop comprising a framingconsistingof,transverselyextending ineznbers having their endsdovviiivardly disposed, sectional brace v iiieinbers ilii'nged together:and

verse nienibers,'atopfoovering -niounted on said transverse Einenib is,a' curvedY support seated in the'V rear transverse ineinberVV and,depending therefrom, rearwardly extend- 4interposed betiveeiiand'hinged to 4said trans-jV Ysaid raniingfand extended over tliee'nds of fing ,lining seated .inthe 'rear transverse linein-V ber i and gpositionedfagainst said -V support', A a depending.' baalt curtain',Amounted onlsaid supportand extended 'from said covering,

and' said` bi'aee Vine'inbersi havingftheir Yupper faces dis osed Linthe olanefofthe'u 'er l i i P faees Vofthe transverse.iiieinberswherebyto V i maintain and support d'eovering substantially smooth and freeffroinlsagging, said blraee Y members Y positioned( in ploxiiilty to"the doivnivart verseineinbers ylydisposed-:ei'ids of trans-

